What an inconvenience!
PENSIONER SPENT AN HOUR STUCK IN PARK LANE INTERCHANGE
It was definitely a case of a public inconvenience – but a cheery pensioner was left “stuck in the loo” at Sunderland’s Park Lane Interchange for an hour
However, he was able to see the funny side of his mishap and even called his friends and family to wish them a final farewell in case he never saw the light of day again!
John Hill, who is registered partially sighted, found himself trapped in the disabled toilet and banged on the door to grab the attention of his wife, Theresa.
An hour later when the 78-year-old was finally freed, John went to shake the hand of his rescuer, who pulled away joking, “have you washed your hands?”
The couple, who have been married for 55 years, were on their way to Newcastle from their home in Seaham when the incident occurred on Monday at about 11am.
“My wife was starting to get a bit concerned about me, but I found the whole thing really funny,” said upbeat John.
“We’ve recently moved back to Seaham, it’s where I was born.
“My wife went into the ladies and I used my master key to get into the loo and when I went to come out, I couldn’t open the door.
“I went to use the alarm but that wasn’t working – which had it been different circumstances could have been really serious.
“By this point my wife had got on the bus thinking that’s where I must of gone, meanwhile I’m banging on the bathroom door trying to get out,” laughs John.
“Thankfully she came back and she could just about hear me through the door and she went to speak to one of the people in high vis.”
Despite efforts from staff at the bus station to free John, Sunderland City Council was called and a drill was used to eventually unlock the door.
He added: “I was in there an hour. I was calling my family and friends to say farewell in case I never saw them again.
“When I was finally free I was laughing and I went to shake the hand of my rescuer, he pulled back and said ‘have you washed your hands?’”
Councillor Amy Wilson, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: “It appears that the toilet door jammed while he was inside. This has since been fixed.
“We would like to pass on our best wishes to him and will be writing to him to apologise for any distress caused.”
“I was calling family and friends to say farewell” JOHN HILL